A/N: Second update for the week! Magtutuloy-tuloy kaya? Sana!

LORELEI

I WONDER what Rosetta would tell me today. Ayaw kong pangunahan siya, pero iniisip kong magpapalusot lang siya mamaya. But she didn't have to. The fact that she knocked me out and stole the hard drive from me was enough for me to distance myself from her. In Loki's own words, she has officially declared herself as an enemy to us.

I could have turned down her offer to "clarify some stuff." Ano pa bang dapat pag-usapan, 'di ba? That much was already obvious. Still I'd like to give her a chance to say whatever she wants before I make a decision. May ilang tanong din kasing bumabagabag sa akin. Yes, she's one of them. But some things don't feel right. My gut feeling told me this.

Sabay kaming pumasok sa school ni Loki ngayong araw. Napapadalas na nga 'to. Hindi na siya late na nagigising. He's also curious about what might happen later.

"I'm strongly against the idea of you meeting alone with her," he said. Kakapasok lang namin sa school building at lumiko sa west wing nito. "Given everything that happened, it's best that we come with you."

"Wala naman siyang sinabing pwede akong magsama ng plus one o tawagin ang buong barangay," sagot ko. Sa laki ng kanyang mga hakbang, kinailangan kong bilisan ang aking lakad. I hope he'd slow down a bit. Masyado pang maaga para ma-late at wala naman kaming hinahabol na meeting. "I doubt na may mangyayaring masama sa 'kin. If she wants to hurt me, why did she have to announce it to me? She could have pushed me off stairs or something."

"The last time you were alone with her, she knocked you unconscious and stole something important from you," Loki replied, glancing sideways at me. "Your mindset that you can handle everything by yourself and your belief that people won't hurt you because you don't think they can will do you more harm than good."

Napangiti ako. He's right on the mark. I've easily trusted people around me because I'd like to see the goodness in them. Sometimes I become blind to their flaws and their tendency to be bad. "I didn't know you'll be concerned about me."

"We have to protect one of our own. We have to watch for each other's back," Loki said. Napahinto siya sa paglalakad ng nasa paanan na kami ng hagdan. "As Stein told us yesterday, there's a wild card at play. A third party wants to sit at our table where only two players are allowed. You know what happened to Augustus. You heard what happened to Sir Refrain. The game has become more dangerous."

"What game?"

Napaangat ang mga balikat ko nang marinig ang boses ni Margarette sa likuran. Tumingin sa kanya ang mga walang buhay na mata ni Loki habang marahan akong lumingon sa kanya.

"What game are you two talking about?" Maggie asked, touching the bridge of her eyeglasses. She had the words "I am curious" written all over her face. Not literally though.

"It's about the UNO card game we've been playing," Loki was first to reply. "The stakes are now high, that's why the game became more dangerous. Whoever loses will have to wear a placard that says 'I suck at UNO' in school."

"Really?" Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ni Maggie. I doubt she'd easily fall for Loki's improvised lie.

"Yeah," Loki nodded. His facial expression was as blank as a clean sheet of paper that you wouldn't sense him lying. "The execom chairwoman is welcome to join the game, as long as you know the rules or you don't get easily annoyed when all the other players conspire against you."

"Whatever game you're playing at, no one is allowed to wear placards as part of your uniform," Maggie answered. She gave up easily, huh? "Remember, you are members of the executive committee kaya dapat sundin n'yo kung ano ang nasa student handbook. Rules are rules."

"What a shame for my fellow players." Loki clicked his tongue. "But what a huge sigh of relief for me. They always work together to make sure that I lose in UNO. Thanks to you, I won't have to dread about wearing that placard."

"On second thought, I think we can allow—"

"No takebacks," Loki interrupted her. "You've made it clear that rules are rules. We will strictly follow what's written in the handbook."

"Fine, whatever." Maggie sighed, rolling her eyes. Hindi ko in-expect na makikisakay siya sa kasinungalingan nitong si Loki. "By the way, okay ka na ba, Lorelei? I heard from Alistair that you were brought to the clinic yesterday. Nagpa-excuse muna siya sa meeting natin."

"I'm feeling better now." I forced a smile. My health was perfectly okay, but my feelings about someone was hurt. "Nawalan lang ako ng malay kahapon habang nasa locker area. Ilang gabi na kasing kulang ang tulog ko tapos hindi pa ako nakakain ng lunch kahapon. Thanks for the concern anyway."

"The danger had passed, or so it seemed," buntong-hininga ni Maggie. She's half-right though. One danger went by, but another one came in. "Sana'y makapagpahinga ka na sa mga susunod na araw. If you're still not feeling well, you can excuse yourself for our meeting later this afternoon."

"Can I also excuse myself?" hirit ni Loki.

"No, you look perfectly fine," nakangiting tugon ni Maggie. "I expect to see you later."

Nagpaalam na siya sa amin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungo sa execom office. We would have come with her and stayed there until the school bell rings, but we have another agenda this morning.

As for Loki and I? We climbed the stairs going to the second floor.

"Shouldn't we tell Maggie about what we found out?" I asked. Hindi pa namin nasasabi yata sa kanya ang tungkol sa third party theory ni Stein at ang involvement ni Rosetta sa organisasyon. We could have informed her about the former yesterday kung wala lang sanang nangyari sa akin kahapon. "We already told her about the seeing the dead body of Sir Ephraim in his apartment."

"Not yet," Loki replied, shaking his head. "We are still processing the whole Rosetta-is-one-of-them angle. Maybe after we talk to your ex-friend. Right now, we only have a fragment of the picture. Fortunately she offered to show us a bigger part of it. Let's hear what she has to say."

I agree with him completely. Sana nga lang ay hindi kasinungalingan ang sasabihin niya sa amin.

"Loki dear!"

The two of us looked back and saw Jamie running toward us, her long hair in braid bouncing. Pinagtinginan tuloy siya ng mga estudyante sa hallway dahil sa pagsigaw niya. Nang makalapit na siya sa amin, hinabol muna niya ang kanyang hininga bago kami nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. We greeted each other a good morning.

"Pwede bang pakibagalan nang kaunti ang paglalakad n'yo?" pakiusap niya sabay hawak sa balikat ko at balikat ni Loki. "Mahirap kayang maglakad nang naka-heels!"

Napatingin ako sa kanyang sapatos. May takong nga ang suot niya. Ako, naka-flat shoes lang. Medyo na-amaze ako na nagawa niyang tumakbo ng ilang metro nang hindi natatapilok. She's probably used to running around with heels.

"How's that school project you're working on?" tanong ko. Hindi siya nakasabay sa amin kahapon dahil may tatapusin daw siya. She mentioned a group project or something.

"Natapos na namin kahapon. Ako lang nga ang halos gumawa ng lahat. Ambibigat ng mga groupmate ko!" reklamo ni Jamie na may kasama pang demonstration na parang may binubuhat siya. "Anyway, there's another reason kung bakit nagpaiwan ako kahapon."

"And that is?"

Lumingon muna siya sa kanyang likuran at isiniksik ang sarili niya sa pagitan namin ni Loki. Hininaan din niya ang kanyang boses nang magsalita siya. "I talked to Stein yesterday and he confirmed to me na may hawak na silang external hard drive. Black and red casing, tama?"

"Legit ba talagang 'yon ang storage device na naglalaman ng mga sikreto ng mga estudyante rito?" tanong ko. Only Stein and his minion could confirm because I didn't have the chance to check it myself.

"'Yon ang 'di ko sigurado." Marahang umiling si Jamie. "Stein told me that the device is password protected kaya hindi nila basta-basta matse-check kung ito na nga ang Augustus' box. But he's confident na mabubuksan nila agad 'yon."

"Maybe only Augustus and his now dead switch know what the password is," Loki commented, his eyes squinting.

"No, there's another person who might know about the password," I muttered, looking at them. "The one who left the hard drive in my locker. Whoever took that device from Sir Ephraim also took his smartphone and laptop, right? What if nandoon ang instruction ni Augustus kung paano mabubuksan ang box? Then the original thief must have seen the code and accessed the storage device's contents."

"That is certainly probable," Loki nodded. "It's also within the realm of possibilities that the original thief will give you the password. Why would he give you a locked item without the key that can unlock it? He may be involved in the killing of Sir Ephraim, but he might be the good Samaritan that we need. Maybe he's the third party who wants to join the game?"

Hindi ko pa idine-delete ang contact number niya sa phone ko. Maybe I could try giving that person a call and see if they answer? But what's the use of having the key kung wala ang bagay na i-a-unlock namin?

"Bakit nga pala sabay kayong naglalakad ni Loki dear sa hallway?" may pang-iintrigang tanong ni Jamie. "'Di ba't sa kabilang wing ang classroom niya?"

"Meron kasing—"

"Oh, my gosh!" Napatakip ng kanyang bibig si Jamie at nanlaki ang mga mata sa 'kin. "Don't tell me na ihahatid ka niya sa classroom n'yo? Never pa niyang ginawa 'yon sa akin. Tell me, Loki dear, are you choosing my best buddy over me?"

I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh. Sa dami ng iniisip namin, nagawa pa niyang maihirit ang pagseselos niya. Ano bang mali kung ihahatid ako ni Loki o ng kung sinuman sa classroom? I don't see anything wrong with that action. Itong si Jamie lang talaga ang gumagawa ng issue.

"Rosetta wants to talk to me," I said to clear any strange thoughts that she might be having right now. "Tinawagan niya ako kahapon at sinabi sa aking may gusto siyang i-clarify tungkol sa mga nangyari."

"I suggest that she doesn't come alone," Loki added. "You are welcome to join us if you wish to hear the explanation of your friend."

"Ah, 'yon lang pala!" Tila nakahinga nang maluwag si Jamie. "Well, gusto ko ring malaman ang side ni Rosie. She might have a reason kung bakit niya nagawa ang ginawa niya. I mean, look at me. I have my own motivation in joining that group."

"And that's exactly what we want to find out," I said.

Nakarating na kami sa tapat ng aking classroom. There I saw Alistair reading his notes while leaning against the railings. Nang maaninag niya kami, iniangat niya ang kanyang tingin sa amin at isinara ang kanyang binabasa.

"How are you, Lori?" he asked after we exchanged morning greetings.

"Feeling better." I nodded. Nawala na nga ang sakit sa ulo ko, pero may bago namang magpapasakit nito. "Did you receive my message?"

Tumango si Alistair at sandaling napasulyap sa pintuan ng classroom namin. "Nilapitan ako ni Rosetta kanina. Tinanong niya kung pwede raw ba kaming mag-usap. Kasama kayo."

"Oh? What a surprise," Loki said dryly. "So she's extending the invitation to anyone curious about her affiliation to M's organization? Maybe she should call for a press conference and invite some execom officers and writers of the Clarion."

Napahawak ako sa aking chin at hindi naiwasang mapaisip. What was she planning? Maiintindihan ko pa kung ako lang ang gusto niyang kausapin. But to open the conversation with the four of us? Hindi ko makita kung ano ang binabalak niya. Talaga bang may ika-clarify lang siya sa amin? O meron ba siyang inihandang patibong sa amin?

"Aba, nandyan na pala kayo!"

My shoulders jerked when I heard that familiar voice. The same voice that I heard back in the locker area. The one who told whoever was on the other line that she "found it."

Lumingon ako sa may pintuan at napansing nakatayo roon si Rosetta. Kumaway siya sa amin na parang isang kandidata sa beauty pageant. She was smiling from ear to ear. I could see her pearl white teeth and some part of her gums.

Honestly, I don't know how to look at her anymore. I used to see her as someone sweet, caring and friendly. But now, I'm struggling on how I must view her. Do you know that feeling when you've been good friends with someone for quite some time, but due to one incident, your friendship started to fall apart? We may not be as close as I was to Jamie, pero may kirot pa rin sa akin. I felt somewhat betrayed.

Madali siyang lumapit sa akin at biglang hinawakan ang mga kamay ko. Kung gusto kong gumanti sa ginawa niya sa akin kahapon, I could have hit her with my stun pen right here.

"Alam kong nasabi ko na 'to sa phone call natin kahapon," Rosetta said, holding my hands gently. I wasn't expecting this from her. Parang ang kapal ng mukha niyang lumapit sa akin at hawakan ako. She really had the guts to show her face to me after what she did. "But I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday. I don't wanna offer any excuses. All I can offer you is my sincerest apology."

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa mga kamay niya. Habang nakatitig ako sa nagmamakaawa niyang mukha, naalala ko na naman ang nangyari kahapon. How she appeared with a phone near her ear in the locker area. How she asked me to hand over the drive. And how she wrestled with me as I tried to stab her with my stun pen.

"Can you forgive me?" she asked, looking at me straight in the eye. Naisip ko tuloy na gusto niyang maging runner-up sa pagiging best actress, kasunod ni Jamie.

Tahimik ko siyang tinitigan. I couldn't answer her answer right now. Some would say that God can forgive literally anyone, so why can't humans do the same? Hindi naman ako ang tipo ng taong matagal na nagkikimkim ng sama ng loob. Eventually I would forgive her. But at this very moment, the word "yes" got stuck in my throat.

Niluwagan ko na ang pagkakahawak ko sa mga kamay niya at inalis ang mga ito. She frowned at me as I failed to give her a direct answer.

"Rosie..." bulong ni Jamie sa tabi ko. I could see the disappointment in her face. Sino ba namang hindi madidismaya sa tulad niya?

"Rejecting your application to the QED Club was the best decision I've ever made as its president," Loki said. "I knew something was off with you, but I couldn't put a finger on what exactly that was back then. If I had let you in, I would have raised a snake in my own backyard."

Tumingin sa kanya si Rosetta na napahawak sa dibdib. "Alam mo bang na-hurt ako sa ginawa mo noon at sa sinabi mo ngayon, pero naiintindihan ko kung bakit. I don't wanna take it against you. Medyo unfair nga lang ang ginamit mong description."

"The snakes will definitely find it offensive that I compared you to them," Loki retorted, sliding his hands in his pockets. I tried to suppress a smile. "The ectothermic amniotes vertebrates deserve better than being used as a form of figurative language to your treachery."

"You said you want to talk?" Alistair asked. Sumingit na siguro siya bago pa makapagsabi ng mas masasakit na salita si Loki. We know kung gaano katabil ang dila niya, lalo na sa mga involved kay M. The snake comment was only an appetizer. Wait until he compares Rosetta to a doomsday being or something.

Rosetta nodded. "Sabi ko nga kay Lori kahapon, may mga bagay akong gustong i-clarify. Alam kong may mga opinion na kayo sa akin at kung anuman ang sabihin ko, posibleng walang magbago. But at least, I wanna be given the chance to be heard."

My eye twitched when I heard her say my nickname "Lori." Only my friends are allowed to call me by that name. Given what she did, her license to call me "Lori" was about to be revoked.

"We still have fifteen minutes before the school bell rings," Loki said, looking at clock display on his phone. "You can start talking now."

"Uhm... Probably not here," Rosetta replied, looking sideways at the passing students. "Mas maganda kung mag-uusap tayo sa lugar na walang ibang tao. Baka pwedeng sa audio-visual room—"

"Nope, we won't give you the chance to choose," mabilis na sumbat sa kanya ni Loki. "Who knows what sort of traps you've prepared in your choice of venue?"

"You know that I can't hurt you, right?" Rosetta knew about M's golden rule, but that was hardly surprising. Kino-confirm niya lang kung ano na ang alam namin. "Fine! Kayo ang mamili kung saan n'yo gustong mag-usap tayo."

"The rooftop," I suggested. "That area is off-limits to students so no one can overhear our conversation."

I found it to be the most convenient place for secret conversations. Doon namin pinag-usapan ni Luthor ang plano kung paano malilinlang si Augustus na umaayon ang lahat sa kanyang plano.

"Rooftop, it is." Rosetta smiled.

Pinauna na namin siyang maglakad habang kami'y nasa likuran niya. Parang siya ang tour guide habang kami ang mga turista na gustong libutin ang campus. She kept that smiling facade which somehow worried me. Kami nga ang namili ng lugar, pero kung may balak na masama itong si Rosetta, baka may inihanda pa rin siyang trap para sa amin.

"What if we tie her to a chair and make her confess everything she knows about the organization?" Loki muttered. "That way, we can be sure that this conversation is gonna be fruitful."

"That's a pretty good idea, but no." Ayaw kong mag-resort sa gano'ng strategy kahit gaano ako ka-disappointed sa isang tao.

Pagkarating namin sa dulo ng hagdan sa pinakataas, tinanggal ni Alistair ang sign na nakasabit sa pinto at nagsasabing off-limits ang pagpasok doon. Hinawi rin niya ang barricade tape na nasa pintuan. Pinauna na niya kaming lumabas sa rooftop. He made sure to lock it from the outside para walang ibang tao na bigla-biglang papasok. Kaming lima lang ang nasa rooftop ngayon.

"Now talk," Loki said impatiently.

"Bago ang lahat, I'm not giving you permission to record this conversation," Rosetta said. She was a meter or two away from where we stood and turned around to face us. "So kung may plan kayong i-record ang mga sasabihin ko, I strongly advise against it. Gusto kong off-the-record ang pag-uusap natin."

I clicked my tongue. Naka-ready na ang recording app sa aking phone.

"I know that you don't trust me now, but I trust that the QED Club or the execom members in front of me will honor my request," she went on, looking at my hand inside my pocket.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes. "You can talk without the fear of being recorded."

"We only have twelve minutes left before the bell rings," Loki reminded her.

Rosetta took a deep breath, staring at the sky for a while before returning her gaze to us.

"Kung anuman ang iniisip n'yo ngayon tungkol sa akin, well, tama 'yon. I am one of them."

That didn't draw any reaction from us. We already knew that. Kinonfirm lang niya kung ano na ang alam namin.

"Since M is fond of chess terminology, think of me as one of his important pieces: the Queen."

q.e.d.

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